Brake lever



\ Y gywc/wto/o 'EAML/EL ,h .5A/ELL' S. A. SNELL BRAKE LEVER Filed April 7, 1939 Nov.

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT or-Flcla4 Sain'inel Inliner to F. Bosman,

Jackson, Mich.

' l 'Application april 7. ma, semi No. 266,450

9 Claims. (Ol. 74-581l This invention relates to hand brake levers and more particularly to the type that project from beneath the dash of automotive vehicles.

Broadly, the objects andl advantages of the la presentinvention reside in the simplified arrangement and constructi'onof the parts, To this end, the brake lever is locked in its adjusted position by a frictionally gripping structure, the locking member of which 'are carried by a'releasi ing trigger disposed entirely on one side of the lever and arranged to be tripped by exerting a force on the manually engageable end thereof in the direction of moving the brake lever to set the brake, that is, by a pulling action. The

il fabrication of the structure comprising the present invention is further simpliiied by providing all hard, wear resisting portions as separate pieces rather than as portions of a larger piece.

More particularly. an object of the invention is to provide a brake lever having a releasing trigger pivoted to and disposed entirely on one side of the lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake lever lockable in adjusted position by g5 a frictionally gripping member carried by a releasing trigger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brake lever lockable in adjusted position by irlctionally gripping movable members,

swingable with the lever, bearing against a locking segment on one side thereof and against hardened inserts in the `lever on the other side thereof.

These and other objects will be apparent from l the following specification when .taken with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a lever and releasing trigger structure comprising the present invention,

40 Fig. 2 is a section of the line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail of a portion of the lever con-V struction disclosing .the cutout portions therein for receiving the roller backing plate inserts for the locking rollers, and I Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a `roller backing plate insert.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character I indicates a brake lever having a hand gripping portion 2. The hand gripping portion 51, 2 is tubular in form arranged to comfortably ilt in the hand of a user. The remainder of the brake lever I is channel shaped in cross section as appears particularly in Fig. 2. Extending from' the upper end of the lever I are spacedV ears 3 between which are received an attachment plate l, adapted to be secured to the body on .which .the brake lever is used. A shoulder rivet I is passed through theears 3 and the attachment plate 4' for pivotally connecting the lever I to the plate I.

The lever I is connected to the brake mech-l, anism which it actuates through suitable connections attached to one of the openings therein. It will be understoodthat the openings l pass through 4both iianges on the channel shaped l0 lever I. The lever I is ,locked in its adjusted position by frictionally gripping structure comprisy ing aV locking segment 1, arcuate in form, pivot-` ally connected to the attachment plate 4, and locking rollers l pivotally and loosely supported 18 in a releasing trigger 9.

'I'he locking segment I projects through an opening I0 in the web portion of the channel shaped lever I as shown particularly in Fig. 1, and has one -end thereof shaped into a-disc-like portion II mounted in a socket I2 in the attachment plate l, to provide a pivotal connection v between the two parts.

The releasing trigger 9 is channel shaped in cross section as shown particularly in Figs. 1

` and 2, and is pivoted by means of a pin I8 in straddling relation to the lever I.` The upper end of the trigger 9 is provided with upwardly projecting ears IB provided with slightly elongated slots I1 in which are loosely disposed for 80 rotation the lockingrollers 8. The ends of the locking rollers 8 project outwardly from'the sides of the trigger 8 and are held in position in the slots I'I by locking rings I8. As shown particularly in Fig. y1 the width of the slots I1 is greater 35 than the diameter of the locking rollers 8, .only by an amount to provide clearance so that the locking rings I8 bear against the outside of the ears I 8, to maintain the locking rollers 8 in position. locking `segment 'I projects between the locking rollers 8. In order to guide and resist the thrust of the locking rollers 8 is frictional engagement with the locking segment 1 for locking the lever I in ad- 45 justed position, backing or stop plates I9 are provided, secured to the lever I and arranged on the opposite sides of the locking rollers 8 from the locking segment 1. 'Ihe stop plates I9 extend transversely of the lever I and trigger 9 and are 50 inclined slightly toward each other at such anangle, well known in the art, that the locking rollers 8 will become wedged between the locku ing segment 1 and the stop plates I8, to lock the lever I with respect to the locking segment 'l when 5l As will be clear from the drawing, the y y The stop plates I8 are shown more particularly in Fig. 4 and comprise hard, ground appropriately shaped pieces of steel press-fitted in slots 20 in side flanges of the channel shaped lever I. As shown particularly in Fig. 2 the stop plates I8 extend from one side of the lever I to the other and are arranged in parallel relation to the locking rpllers 8. One of the particular advantages of the .invention resides in the fact that the stop plates I 8, the locking rollers 8 and the locking Il segment 1, comprising those parts of the invention required to be hardened, are relatively small and separate pieces which may be fabricated and hardened independently. Preferably the segment 1 is case hardened.

` I 'Ihe trigger 8 pivoted about the pin Il is urged in a clockwise direction about the pin I8 with respect to the lever I, by a spring 2I, at one end engaging the trigger 8 and at the other end engaging the lever I.' As shown particularly in the lower portion of Fig. 2 the side flanges of the lever I adjacent the section thereof, at which is desirable'to locate the Vspring 2I, are crimped to provide an open-sided chamber 22 for maintaining the spring 2| against displacement.

` A80 The structure comprising the present inven- 40 more fingers of the hand, engage the hand por-l tion-28 of the releasing trigger 8. Then by pullring gently on the hand portions 2 andA 22 the trigger 8 is moved in a counterclockwise direction about the pin I8 to move the locking rollers y 45 8 out of locking relation with the locking segment 1. The lever I then may move in a clockwise direction to release the brake (not shown). It will be understood that while the rollers have c been disclosed as the locking Aagents suitably guided bans could be employed in their stesa. Accordingly, it is to be considered that the term roller in the specification and 'claims may vbe taken as broad enough to imply a ball as well as the cylindrical element shown in the drawing. 55 Also an arrangement could be devised within the scope of the present invention wherein only one roller would be needed. While the brake and braking mechanism will prevent counterclockwise movement of the lever I about the rivet 5 to 80 such an extent as to move the lever I out of. operative relation with the segment 1, the outer end of the segment 1 is provided with a transverse pin 24 as a precautionary measure.

From the foregoing description it will be ap- 05 parent that while the present invention has been stated to be particularly adaptable for automotive vehicles, it will be readily understood that it may have other applications. Furthermore. the certain details oi' 'the invention which have n been described as being particularly useful are not considered to be limiting features in the invention. For instance, the stop plates I8 need not necessarily be formed as separate inserts or A need not be associated with the structure in the 'Il specific manner described. Also the locking segment, instead of being pivotally supported, may be rigidly supported. Other changes in form may also be made.

Where .the angle between the operating surfaces of the inserts or stop plates I8 is approxiyl5 mately 22 there is no necessity, as heretofore described, of taking the load upon the lever I by slightly pivoting the same counterclockwise at the timethe trigger 8 is depressed. With this approximate angle, the rollers 8 may be rolled l0 out of locking position by merely depressing the trigger 8, and then releasing the brake by pivoting the lever I clockwise without the objection of having to rst further apply the brake before release. As the angle between the inserts or stop plates I8 is reduced, the pressure required to release the rollers 8 through the trigger 8 increases to a point at which it becomes necessary to rst remove the load from the rollers 8 before "depressing the trigger 8.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. In a. device of the character described, a lever adapted to be pivoted to a suitable support. a locking segment having 'a clutching surface, relatively flxed with respect to said lever, a clutching surface carried by said lever and inclined to said first named clutching surface, a trigger pivoted to said lever, and a roller pivoted in and carried by said trigger and adapted to be jammed between said clutching surfaces under predetermined conditions, to lock the same together, said trigger being operative to shiftsaid roller out of jamming engagement with said clutching surfaces` to release said lever.

2. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to be pivoted to asuitable support,

a locking member having a clutching surface, relatively fixed with respect to said lever, a clutching surface carried by said lever and inclined to 40 said first named clutching surface, a trigger pivoted to said lever, a roller pivoted in and carried by said trigger and adapted to be jammed between said clutching surfaces, resilient means pivoting said trigger with respect to said lever to urge said roller into jamming vrelation with said clutching surfaces, to lock the same to-v vgetlier, said trigger being operativey to shift said roller out of jamming engagement with said clutching surfaces to release said lever.

3, In a device of the character described, a lever vadapted to be pivoted to a suitable support, a locking segment having a clutching surface, relatively fixed with respect to said lever, a clutching surface carried by said lever and inclined to said first named clutching surface, a trigger pivoted to said lever, a roller carried by said trigger and adapted to be jammed between said clutching surfaces to lock the same together, said trigger being operative to shift said roller out of jamming engagement with said clutching surfaces to release said lever, said trigger comprising an elongated sheet metal member olf channel shaped cross section in which the ends of said roller are carried, straddling a portion of said lever, and resilient means disposed between predetermined portions of said lever and said trigger for pivoting said trigger with respect to said lever to cause said trigger to move said roller into jamming relation with said clutching' sur- 70 faces.

4. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to be pivoted to a suitable support, a

v`locking segment having a pair of clutching surfaces, relatively nxed with rpect to said lever,

a pair of clutching surfaces carried by said lever, v each inclined to said first named clutching surfaces respectively, a trigger pivoted to said lever, a pair of rollers carried by said trigger and adapt- 5. ed to be jammed between said clutching surfaces respectively under predetermined conditions to lock the same together, said locking segment being plvotable about a fined point, said trigger being operative to shift said rollers out of jamming 0 engagement with said clutching surfaces .to release said lever.

5. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to be pivoted to a suitable support, a locking segment having a clutching surface,

5 relatively fixed with respect to said lever, a

stop plate having a clutching surface, said stop plate being removably secured tosaid lever, a trigger pivoted to said lever, said trigger having spaced ears on opposite sides of said clutching 0 surfaces, and a roller rotatably supported -by said ears, and adapted to be jammed between said clutching surfaces under predetermined conditions to lock the same together, and resilient means to pivot said trigger with respect to said 5 lever, to carry said roller into jamming relation with said clutching surfaces, said trigger being operative to shift said roller out of jamming engagement with said clutching surfaces to re' lease said lever. Y

D 8. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to be pivoted to a suitable support, said lever comprising 'an elongated member hav ing a portion thereof of sheet metal construction and of channel shaped cross section, said- 5 channel shaped portion of said lever having an opening through the web portion thereof, a locking segment relatively xedwith respect tc said lever having opposed clutching surfaces. said locking segment projecting through said opening,

i a pair o: stop plates carried by the flange portions of said channel shaped portion of said lever, said stop plates being disposed on opposite sides of said locking Segment and having clutching surfaces thereon inclined toward said locking i segment clutching surfaces, a trigger pivoted to t said lever, said trigger having spaced .ears disposed on the oppite sides of said lever opposite said Istop plates, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted between said ears and adapted to be jammed between said clutching surfaces respectively to lock the same together,l and resilientmeans operatively associated with said lever and trigger to pivot said trigger with respect to said lever to iam said rollers between said clutching surfaces respectively, said trigger `being operative to shift said rollers out of jamming engagement with said clutching surfaces' to release said lever.

'7. 'I'he invention as defined in claim 6 wherein the trigger comprises an elongated sheet metal member of channel shaped cross section, straddiing one side'of said lever, and said resilient means comprises a spring disposed between said triggenand said lever at a predetermined position. A 8. A pivoted .brake lever comprising a sheet metal body having spaced sides, radially spaced opposed openings in said sides, wear resisting inserts supported in said openings to present radially spaced clutching surfaces, a relatively fixed` locking member extending between said sides and between said inserts and presenting opposed wear resisting surfaces in spaced relation to said first surface, a pair of rollers located between said opposed surfaces for clutching the same to one another, andreleasing^means connected .to said rollers for moving the same along said surfaces to a declutching position.

9. A pivoted brake lever of sheet metal construction, comprising a sheet metal lever portion having radially spaced openings therein, wear resisting inserts supported in said openings to present radially spacedV clutching surfaces. a

locking member'extending between said inserts and presenting opposed wear resisting surfaces in spaced relation to said vfirst surfaces, a pair of rollers located between said. surfaces for clutching the same to one another, and releasing means connected to said rollers for moving the same. along said surfaces to a declutching position.

SAMUEL A. SNEIL. 

